Apple TV Relents And Offers Its Users Access To Hulu Plus

This could be a significant change for Apple: So far it has only made iTunes and Netflix available to Apple TV users who wanted to order movies and TV shows. Strangely, the companies aren’t saying much about the decision. There’s no press release with grandiose statements from execs — just this mention on the Hulu blog with instructions for Apple TV users who want to access the $7.99 a month service. But Apple’s desire to limit consumers’ choices seemed to put Apple TV at a competitive disadvantage to rivals including game consoles (such as Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PS3) and Roku boxes that provide gateways to other video services including Amazon Prime. Hulu Plus streams a variety of TV shows including current and old series from ABC, NBC, FOX, The CW and Univision.

8 Comments

Great news! We Apple TV owners have been waiting for this for a while.

No One Of Consequence • on Jul 31, 2012 9:56 am

This seemed a logical move given the “mirroring” function in Apple’s new operating system. Basically, a Mac computer user could have Hulu Plus up on their screen, and then click one button, and have Hulu Plus on their HDTV. With this “work around” in place, it only makes sense that Apple put the native Hulu app/channel on their AppleTV box.

Jeremy • on Jul 31, 2012 11:54 am

More like “Hulu relents and lets Apple start taking 30% of their subscriber fees for people who sign up via Apple TV.” Apple wasn’t holding this up, Hulu finally caved to Apple’s pricing plan is all.

bigbowood • on Jul 31, 2012 1:50 pm

Actually, I know someone that worked at Hulu, and he told me months ago that Hulu was ready to do this over a year ago, and that Apple was holding up the process.

Les • on Jul 31, 2012 12:24 pm

I am an Apple TV user. Since I saw this article, I have already been on the Hulu website and will probably subscribe when I get home tonight. More interested in the Hulu Plus content which I can play on my TV and not so much of the stuff that I can play on my desktop or portable device but who knows.

PJ • on Jul 31, 2012 2:32 pm

Yay!! Finally!!! *runs to Apple TV* Using the iPad to watch HuluPlus on my TV was a bother, this is awesome.